Wordless Wednesday

*How my house looks like on a good day of homeschooling (good day defined as everyone getting ALL their school work done). Just trying to "keep it real!" ;-)

Today was a good day!!

Wordless Wednesday

* Well, almost wordless! LOL! Just wanted to note that to make things simple this year, we're using pre-packaged cards, pre-packaged cookie mix, and store bought play dough. The kids didn't seem to notice or care. *

Boys & Their Hobbies: Part II

A while back I posted my thoughts on the need men have for meaningful hobbies.

Craig has taken on a new one, thanks to a lovely family we know! ;-) Yesterday, he went paintball fighting with my dad and my cousins. Today, he spent some time in the back with the kids. Anyone who's been over to our home would know we DO NOT have acreage and that my backyard is NOT set up for this kind of recreation.

So, after an hour of shooting I had to put my foot down. After all, they had stained my fence and bird bath. Instead, I sent them packing over to my mom-in-laws. She has a wide field perfect for target practice

Thank you, dear S. family, for introducing us to this wonderful sport! LOL!

The Posse

I just couldn't resist!! I used to love shooting with my cousin.

Isabelle

Anna

Sophia

Kolbe

Catherine, shooting air!! LOL!!

Girls Singing in Choir

I've been wanting to record the girls singing in the children's choir for a while now. I finally thought to record them during their practice BEFORE Mass this morning. Here they are singing my favorite, Panis Angelicus . The adult choir accompanies them. I love it when they sing this song.

*I wish I knew how to edit the width of the video. But, of course, I have no clue. So, I would like to note that Sophia is clipped out but would have appeared in the lower right corner. Isabelle (wearing a beige headband) appears on the left side. Anna is the last one on the right in the second row.*

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

FOR CRAIG: Part 1

Today was the final day of a weeklong music camp at our church. The kids performed during mass and later held a mini concert for the parents. The theme was American Folk Music. Here are a *few* video clips (because I have TONS!!!). Craig, they were darling! ENJOY!

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This first one is Kolbe's class singing Hush Little Baby. Notice Kolbe's big toothless grin!!

Next is Kolbe singing his favorite song ... something Barnyard? I didn't quite catch the name.

Finally, Kolbe NOT singing She'll Be Going 'Round the Mountain. He was busy trying to give his Cousin J the 'Gig 'Em sign everytime he came around. That's about the extent of his attention span. Thankfully, it was also the last song.

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The girls were in the regular choir and sang over a dozen songs. I selected a few clips (i.e. those that I wasn't whispering threats to Kolbe or wobbling the camera too much. LOL!) to feature. I'll admit I had to use a little muscle (and some bribery associated w/ a book trip to B&N) to get Anna to participate. She finally conceded and did a GREAT job!! These clips are in order of length, not in order of performance.

*NOTE* I don't actually know the names of some of these songs.

Singing the Rio Grande.

Singing the Erie Canal

So Isabelle is a wonderful whistler. Unfortunately, I find whistling to be VERY annoying. I am often asking her to take her talent to another room or outside. Well, this week her whistling came in very handy!! She was only one of a handful of kids who could. Who knew her whistling would one day be needed!! LOL!! She was very proud!

Singing Old Dan Tucker and Turkey & the Straw ???

More clips to come, including the girls dancing the Virginia Reel ...... that's if its not too long and Blogger allows it.

Bluebonnets

Every year we take pictures of the children in Bluebonnets. These are our favorite pictures!!! Every year we drive back to the same Texas hillside! We've been taking these pictures since Isabelle was four. Its beautiful to see other families following this same tradition. You can even tell how recently another family has visited the same spot by the flattened circle among the flowers. We're always careful to follow the already-made paths among the bluebonnets so as not to ruin them for future visitors.

Law Breaker

We once told Isabelle and Anna that it was illegal to pick Bluebonnets since they were the state flower. We really thought this was so at the time. Well, they haven't forgotten. You can imagine the screaming that ensued when Catherine decided to break the law!